[Pictured here, Saint Kolbe, who was slain by the Nazis at
Auschwitz.]

"The need for an organization dedicated to the
Immaculata was the result of several incidents which
occured in Rome in 1917. This saw the second centenary
celebration of Freemasonry, and true to form they chose
the Holy City of Rome as the theatre of sacriligious
demonstrations. In front of the Vatican, the Freemasons
paraded signs which read 'Satan must reign in the Vatican.
The Pope will be his slave.' Scurilous pamphlets directed against
the Holy Father were disributed among the people.
Friar Maximilian, who was not yet a priest, saw this
and immediately hit upon the idea of forming an association
which would combat not only the Freemasons, but also
protagonists of the Devil." -- Fr. Jeremiah J. Smith,
O.E.M. CONV., "Saint Maximillion Kolbe: Knight of the
Immaculata, pages 15-16, Tan Books and Publishers, Inc.

" After the example of Saint Francis of Assisi's
taking off to convert the sultan, one day he asked his
superior's permission to go to convert the grand
master of the Freemasons. The Masons were making a
racket around the Vatican. They had unfurled fire-red
banners depicting the dragon bringing down Saint
Michael, as if to announce to the papacy, already
stripped of its temporal power, the impending reversal
of spiritual power." -- Andre Frossard, "Forget Not
Love: The Passion of Maximillion Kolbe", page 39,
Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 1991

The work of Maximillion Kolbe is carried on in the United
States by the Franciscans at Franciscan Marytown in
Libertyvile, Illinois. This is the American headquarters
of the Knights of the Immaculata.